The leather industry has long symbolized luxury, craftsmanship, and durability. Yet, beneath this polished surface lies a hidden cost—environmental degradation, ethical concerns, and unsustainability. For centuries, the leather industry has operated in ways that leave lasting scars on our planet. From toxic rivers to deforestation and animal suffering, the true price of leather is one we can no longer afford to ignore.
The Myriad Pitfalls of the Conventional Leather Industry
Environmental Damage
The leather industry is among the most polluting sectors globally. The tanning process, which gives the leather its durability and finish, relies on chemicals like chromium salts, often contaminating water systems and poisoning aquatic life and communities.
Furthermore, leather production begins long before it reaches tanneries. Cattle farming, the cornerstone of leather supply chains, is the leading driver of deforestation. Nearly 80% of deforestation in the Amazon is attributed to livestock farming, with similar land degradation observed in India’s cattle- rearing regions. Forests—vital carbon sinks—are destroyed to make way for grazing land, accelerating climate change.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Livestock farming contributes significantly to greenhouse gases. According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), livestock accounts for 14.5% of all human-induced emissions, with methane released during cattle digestion being a major contributor. To put this into perspective, the production of one leather jacket generates roughly 48 kg of CO2 emissions, equivalent to driving a car for 200 kilometers.
Animal Cruelty
The ethical implications are equally troubling. Millions of animals are slaughtered annually for their hides, often after enduring harsh conditions on factory farms. In India, this is further intensified by the cultural significance of cattle and the growing demand for cruelty-free alternatives as consumers seek to align their choices with their values.
Synthetic Leather: A Flawed Alternative
In response to ethical concerns surrounding traditional leather, synthetic alternatives like Polyurethane (PU) and Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) have emerged as popular choices, primarily due to affordability. However, these materials come with their own environmental challenges.
Non-Biodegradability
PU and PVC are plastic-based and do not decompose, contributing to the growing problem of long- term waste in landfills. In India, where waste management infrastructure is often overburdened, these materials exacerbate the issue, leading to overflowing landfills and environmental degradation.
Microplastic Pollution
Over time, synthetic leather sheds microplastics, infiltrating water, soil, and the air we breathe. Alarmingly, studies have found microplastics in human bloodstreams, raising concerns about their impact on health. Once in the bloodstream, these particles can travel to vital organs, potentially causing inflammation, disrupting cellular functions, and contributing to long-term health issues. The full extent of their impact remains under study, but their presence highlights the hidden dangers of plastic-based materials.
Durability Issues
Synthetic leather products often degrade faster than traditional leather, leading to a cycle of frequent replacement and waste.
While synthetic alternatives may spare animals, they fall short of solving the broader environmental crisis, leaving a critical gap in the pursuit of a sustainable future for the industry.
A Beacon of Change: Eori™ Emerges
The challenges of traditional and synthetic leather call for an innovative solution. Enter Eori™, which offers a sustainable and ethical answer to the flaws of both conventional and synthetic leather.
Vegan and Plastic-Free
Eori™ is 100% plastic-free, meaning it won’t contribute to landfill waste or release microplastics. Unlike synthetic options, it decomposes naturally, leaving no lasting environmental footprint and staying true to its name—returning to its Earth Origins.
Sustainable Materials
The core of Eori™’s innovation lies in its use of eucalyptus fibers, a renewable and fast-growing resource. Eucalyptus plantations require 80% less water than cattle farming and can thrive on non- arable land, reducing competition for resources.
Reduced Carbon Footprint
The production process of Eori™ has been designed to minimize greenhouse gas emissions. By shifting away from cattle-based raw materials, Eori™ eliminates one of the biggest sources of CO2 and methane in the leather supply chain.
Cruelty-Free and Ethical
Eori™ completely removes animals from the equation. Furthermore, it uses bio-based pigments, ensuring that at no point in the value chain does it compromise on its core ethic of sustainability— aligning with the values of conscious consumers who seek style without suffering.
The Indian Context: A Need for Change
India has long been a global hub for leather goods manufacturing, but the environmental cost is devastating. In regions like Tamil Nadu, where clusters of tanneries dominate the landscape, the unchecked disposal of toxic chemicals like chromium and sulfides into water systems has severely polluted groundwater. Studies show that nearly 60% of groundwater in these areas is unfit for human consumption, with contamination levels often exceeding safe limits by over 200%.
This pollution has crippled local agriculture, as toxic water makes irrigation nearly impossible, leading to barren lands and reduced crop yields. The impact extends to human health, with residents reporting alarming rises in skin lesions, chronic respiratory illnesses, and other conditions linked to toxic exposure. Marginalized communities near tannery hubs bear the brunt of this crisis, highlighting severe environmental injustice.
Eori™ presents a solution that could not only mitigate this damage but also position India as a leader in sustainable manufacturing. With its innovation-driven yet indigenously designed approach, Eori™ exemplifies how Indian companies can shape global narratives in sustainability.
A Paradigm Shift in Progress
The leather industry stands at a critical juncture. Traditional methods are no longer viable in a world demanding sustainability. Synthetic solutions have proven inadequate. Eori™ offers a way forward, blending ethics and innovation into a product that redefines what leather can be.With Eori™, the question is no longer whether leather can be sustainable—it’s how soon the world will catch up. The paradigm is shifting, and Eori™ is leading the way.
For more information, visit: www.eorileather.com